Milk-bottle washer



Nov. 12, 1929.

H. F. KRAUSE MILK BOTTLE WASHER Filed may 21. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 12, 1929. H. F. KRAUSE MILK BOTTLE WASHER Filed May 21 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 12, 1929. F, KRAUSE MILK BOTTLE WASHER Filed May 21, 1926 4 Shanta-Sheet Nov. 12, 1929. H. F. KRAUSE 1,735,539

MILK BOTTLE WASHER Filed May 21, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 12 1929 UN lTED' STATES PATENT 4 OFFICE HERMAN'N Ii. KRAUSE, OF MENOMONEE FALLS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T STOUT FACTUBHVG COMPANY, OF MENOMONEE FALLS, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 01 WISCONSIN MILK-BOTTLE WASHER Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to bottle washing machines and although it may be used for washin any type of bottle, it is particularly adapte for washing milk bottles.

Washing machines for bottles, as heretofore constructed, have usually sprayed the interior and exterior of the bottle immedi ately upon presentation to the machine. This has necessitated the use of a lar e amount of water on the one hand, or else de ective cleaning on the other.

This machine is desi ed to overcome the above noted defects, an objects of this invention are therefore to provide a bottle washing machine which is so constructed that the bottles are first soaked in a treating solution and are repeatedly dipped into the solution and thereafter raised therefrom and emptied prior to assing to the spraying machine so that the ottles are thoroughly soaked prior to their presentation to the spraying means.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a very compact and simple arrange ment for accomplishing the above described results so that although the bottles are carriedin large numbers into and out of the initial treating solution, nevertheless they are contained in a compact formation and are subsequently discharged and spra ed 1n a manner to permit a large number of ottles to be simultaneously treated both in the solution and by the spraying means.

Further objects are to provide an extremely simple and rugged type of machine which has relatively few parts when the large number of operations performed upon the bottles are considered.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the machine.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the washing drum and soaking tank.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the spraying compartment.

Fi re 4 is a view of the discharge gate and t e adjacent portion of the drum cover.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail showing the cam and lever for operating the transfer 50 or receiving member.

1926. Serial N0. 110,675.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the machine comprises essentially two mam portions, a making compartment or pretreating compartment 20, and a s raying compartment 21. The bottles are fe t0 the soaking compartment or pro-treating compartment by means of a tilting table or shelf 22, and are discharged on to a discharging table or'shelf 23, as most clearly shown in Fi ures 1 and 3. Considering first the soaking compartment'-"""' or pre-heating compartment, it will be seen that the shelf or table 22 consists of a table mounted or ii idly secured upon a transverse shaft 24 whic is rocked by means, hereinafter described, in a periodic manner.- This shelf is provided with a back 25 and with a plurality of division partitions 26.. It is adapted to receive a row of bottles and to discharge this row of bottles simultaneousl into the washing or soaking drum indicate generally by the reference character 27. This drum is formed in any suitable manner, as for example by means of a plurality of parallel discs 28 rigidl mounted upon the transverse shaft 29. he upper portion "cfthe drum is covered by the housing forming" the soaking compartment 20, as shown most clearly in Figure 2. 'Between each of the" discs 28 a plurality of partitions 30 are pro- Q vided which divide the space into a predetermined number of bottle receivin compartments. These compartments are t us formed with slanting sides and one of the sides may be provided with a stop 31 for each of the compartments so as to prevent the bottles from wedging into the restricted inner portion of the several bottle receiving compartments. These bottle receiving compartments are numbered 1 to 19 in Figure 2 and the order in which they are filled is indicated by the order of theirnumbers. This feature of the invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter. These discs egrtend partiall into the vat 32 for the treating solut on suc vat being filled to a level such as indicated at 33 in Figure 2. The bottles, as stated, are successively passed through this solution and in order to support them during the lower portion of their travel a plurality of tracks 9 i into a plurality of compartments corresponding to the number of spaces formed by the discs 28 and is adapted to receive a complete row of bottles at a time from one of the groups,

of compartments of the drum. This member or holder 27 normally stays in the position shown in Figure 2 to receive the bottles. It is rocked into the dotted line position after it has received the row of bottles, and such bottles are guided downwardly by the chute 37. It is to be noted further from reference to Figure 2 that a gate is provided adjacent the discharge side of the drum 27. This gate is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 4 and from consideration of such figures it will be seen that the gate consists of a transversely extending rod or bar 38, which is guided at opposite ends by means of the guides 39. It is spring-urged towards closed position by means of the spring 40 and is rocked into open position by means of the lever 41, such lever being described in greater detail hereinafter.

The gate is provided with a plurality ofdownwardly extending fingers 42 which are spaced centrally between successive discs 28 of the drum, and it is to be noted that the housing for the soaking compartment 20 is cut-away adjacent the gate. Thus, when the bottles pass the gate they may ride across the opening by traveling upon the prongs 42. However, when the gate is opened by the lever 41 the bottles slide downwardly into the holder or receiving member 35 and are then inverted and slid along the discharge chute 37, such discharge chute being provided with a plurality of divisional members 43, as indicated in Figure 2. I

From the discharge chute 37 the bottles pass to the spraying compartment 21. Within this spraying compartment a series of sprocket wheels 44, 45, and 46 are provided over which a series of continuous or endless chains 47 pass. These chains are each provided with open bottle receiving sleeves 48 into which the bottles slide, as indicated in the lefthand portion of Figure 3., The chains raise the bottles to a position beneath the several sprayers, as indicated at 49, and also it is to be noted thatduring the rising motion of the bottles they pass through the range of the sprayers 5O. Further, it is to be noted that a series of upwardly directed sprayers 51 are provided. These sprayers are so located and the chain is so operated that the bottles are allowed to dwell over each of the upwardly projecting sprayers. Further, it will be noted that the upper sprayersor vvAt the discharge end of the machine a downwardly slanting discharge slide 54 is provided down which the bottles slide as they move from the holding collars. From this slide the bottles pass to the righting shelf or table 23, which is rocked from the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 to the fullline position, and this simultaneously moves a row of bottles on to any suitable type of conveyor, such as indicated at 55 in Figure 3.

The manifolds for the spray nozzles or members may-be supplied by means of a pump 56 mounted'above the spray compartment and cennected with such manifolds, as indicated in Figure 3. This pump may draw water fromany suitable point, or, if found expedient, may be either partially or wholly connected with the discharge pipe 57 shown in Figure 1 so that a portion at least of the water may be repeatedly used.

It is to be noted that the series of sprocket wheels 44, 45, and 46 are mounted upon shafts 58, 59, and 60, which are indicated in Figures 1 and 3, and that the discharge or'righting table or shelf 23 is similarily rigidly mounted upon a transverse shaft 61. It is to be noted from Figure 1 that the shaft 58 is adjustable as its ends are carried in slides 62 mounted in suitable guides 63 and controlled by screws 64 so that the tension of the chains 47 may be maintained.

The shaft 29 of the soaking or washing drum carries a gear 65 (see Figure 1) which meshes with a pinion 66. rigidly mounted upon a shaft 67 which also carries an eccentric 68r-r1f desired, power may be supplied the shaft 67 in any suitable manner to continuously drive the soaking drum. This eccentric is provided with an eccentric strap or block 69 which is secured to a longitudinally extending rocking rod or shaft 70 and may be locked thereto by means of a set screw 71. The rocking shaft 70 is pivoted at its rear end upon a lever 7 2 which in turn is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 60. This lever carries a pawl 73 which engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel 74 and thus operates the chains in a step-by-step manner. Further, it is to be noted, that the rocking shaft 70 carries a foot or arm 75 which engages a link 7 6. This link 7 6 has its outer end pivotally joined to a short lever 77 This pinion is v pivoted, as indicated at 81.

charges them to the chains, is rigidly mounted upon a transverse shaft 36. This shaft is urged in one direction bv means of a weight 7 7 (see Figure 2) and is periodically rocked,

in the reverse direction by means of the chain 78, one end of which is secured to a sprocket wheel 79 rigidly mounted upon the shaft 36. The other end of the chain 78 is carried by the free end of a lever 80, such lever being operated, as indicated in Figure 5, by means of a roller 82 carried by a block 83 adj ustably mounted upon the rocking shaft 70, such roller contacting with a cam member 84 carried by the lever 80, as shown in Figure 5.

It is to he noted that the rocking bar or rocking shaft 70 pivots about its rear end, as shown in Figure 1, and has a circular motion adjacent the eccentric. Thusthe roller 82 travels in a closed path, as indicated in Figure 5.

It is to be noted further that the rocking shaft 7 O carries an operating member or arm 85 which may be provided with a roller or a curved upper end adapted to engage the short arm 86 of a bell crank lever 87 pivotally mounted, as indicated at 88. The member 85 for actuating the lever is adjustably mounted, as indicated in Figure 1, upon the rocking shaft 70. The upper end 0 connected by means of a link 89 with a lever 90 rigidly mounted upon the shaft 24 which carries the feeding table or shelf 22. As indicated in Figure 1, the member 85 has a somewhat circular motion, or, in other words, travels about a closed path and consequently periodically tips or rocks the receiving table so as to discharge the bottles periodically into the washing drum.

It is to be noted further from reference to Figures 1 and 4 that an upwardly extending slanting shaft 91 is journaled upon the machine and carries at its upper endthe lever 41 for operating the gate. At its lower end it carries a short lever 92 which in turn carrics a roller adapted to be operated by a cam 93 carried by the eccentric shoe or block 69. Each time the eccentric passes upwardly and towards the left, as shown in Figure 1,

' the cam operates the shaft 91 and opens the gate. Similarly, when the member 85 travels upwardly and to the left, as vlewed 1 11 Figure 1, the tilting table 22 is raised and discharges a row of bottles into the washing drum.

In the machine chosen for illustration, the gears 65 and 66 have respectively thirty-eight This lever is.

the lever 87 is and twenty teeth so that their ratio is nineteen to ten. Further, it is to be noted from refer! ence to Figure 2, that in the particular machine chosen for illustration nineteen rows of pockets have been provided. This arrangement of buckets, together with the positioning of the charging or tilting table 22 and the transfer or receiving member 35, and together with the particular gear ratio between the gears 65 and 66, is such that a row of bottles isdischarged into the pocket No. 1, and thereafter the tenth row of buckets arrives at the charging table before it is again tilted. This pocket has been numbered 2 in Figure 2. The

next time the charging table is tilted the compartment No. 3 is presented for the reception of the next row of bottles. This continues in the regular sequence indicated until the drum is just receiving its last row of bottles. At this instant compartment No. 1 has arrived at such a position that the opening of the gate permits its row of bottles to pass from the drum into the receiver or transfer member 35. At other times than this, the gate is not synchronized with the compartment No. 1 to permit the discharge of this row of hottles. Immediately after compartment 19 has been filled, compartment No. 1 takes its place at the next rising or tilting of the charging table 22. At this instant pocket N0. 2 synchronizes or arrives at the gate when the gate executes its opening motion, thus discharging the next row of bottles in the receiver 35. It is thus understood that each time a row of bottles is passed into the receiver 35 it rocks over into the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, and delivers its bottles into the sprayin means. 1

The purpose of this order of receiving and discharging the bottles is to compel each bottle to travel through the washing or initial treating liquid a large number of times prior to its discharge from the washing drum. Thus the bottles are submerged and filled with the washing liquid and thereafter emptied of such liquid a large number of times before they are discharged. from the washing drum.

By means of this mode of treating the bottles all adhering matter is loosened or washed from the bottles and it is therefore an easy matter for the sprays from the several nozzles to thoroughly clean the bottles and also wash all traces of the treating solution from the bottles.

It will be seen, therefore, that a novel form of bottle washing machine has been provided, which will thoroughly wash the bottles before presenting them to the spraying means, and in which the several groups of mechanism are so timed that a harmonious operation of the entire machine is secured.

I claim:

1. In a bottle washing machine, the combination of a soaking tank, a, soaking drum projecting downwardly into the tank and havmg a plurality of pockets for the reception of bottles, a charging platform for the drum, a discharge gate for controlling the discharge of bottles from the drum, a lever connected to the gate, an eccentric at one end of the drum, a cam carried by the eccentric and having operative connection with the lever for operating the gate, means forming operative connection between the eccentric and charging platform for operating the latter and gearing connectingsaid drum and eccentric.

2. In a bottle washing machine, the combination of a soaking tank, a soaking drum projecting downwardly into the tank and having a plurality of pockets around the en tire periphery thereof for the reception of bottles, a charging platform for the drum, a discharge gate for controlling the discharge of bottles from the drum, a lever connected to the gate, an eccentric at one end of the drum, a cam carried by the eccentric and having operative connection with the lever for operating the gate, means forming operative con; neetion between the eccentric and charging platform for operating the latter and gearing connecting said drum and eccentric, said gearing being of a ratio to cause charging of the drum to take place when the drum has been given a rotation differing from a half turn by one-half of a pocket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Menomonee I Falls, in the County of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin. f

HERMANN F. KRAUSE. 

